Machine for rooting hair into doll&#39;s head



Jan- Z, 1965 F. A. RxcHARDs ETAL. 3,165,979

MACHINE FOR RooTING HAIR INT0 nouns HEAD Filed Jan. 1o, 1962 4 sheets-sheet 1 Jan 12, 1965 F. A. RICHARDS ETAL. 3,165,079

MACHINE FoR RooTING HAIR INT0 noLL's HEAD 4 sheets-sheet 2f Filed Jan. l0, 1962 Jan. 12, 1965 F. A. RICHARDS ETAL 3,165,079

MACHINE FoR RooTING HAIR INT0 noLLfs HEAD Filed Jan. l0, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fof/93,9,

FIG. 3.

INVENTOR. FRA/VK ,4. ,WCA/4,2105 BY RAG/VAR M WA/196@ Jan. 12, 1965 F. A. RxcHARDs ETAL. l 3,135,079v

MACHINE FOR RooTING HAIR INT0 nouns HEAD Filed Jan. l0, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 nw... www www ,../Aw. .y A. s Y wm AM m mp ,n W A,

United States Patent O 3,165,079 MACHWE FR RTHNG EAER ENT@ DLLS HEAD Frank A. Richards, Hoiiis, .and Ragnar W. Winherg Floral Park, NX., assignors to ideal Toy Corporation,

Hollis, NX., a corporation of New Yori;

The present invention relates generally to a machine for rooting hair into a dolls head, and in particular to a hair-rooting machine of the chain-stitch type which ernbeds hair-stimulating filaments or threads into the skull area of the doll head and simultaneously draws and severs loops to form a body of hair on the dolls head.

In the manufacture of dolls of the type including a head fabricated of a penetratable plastic, it has become the prevalent practice to embed or root hair-simulating threads o-r yarns of synthetic iibers and the like into the skull area to create a body of hair permanently ariixed to the dolls head, and to subsequently style of hairdo for the doll by appropriate cutting and trimming of the rooted body of hair. A number of different types of machines have become available for simultaneously rooting hair into the dolls head by a series of interlocking chain stitches, drawing successive loops to a prescribed length, and cutting the loops at a point medially thereof and remote from the dolls head such that the opposite legs of the drawn loops provide individual hairs projecting from the dolls head. Machines for this purpose are adaptations of the well-known chain stitch sewing machine of the type manufactured by Puritan Sewing Machine Company, of Boston, Massachusetts. This well known type of sewing machine includes one or more needles which move through stitch-forming cycles having forward skull-penetrating strokes during which the one or more needles pass upwardly through the dolls head and into a hair-pickup position. Provision is made to pass or Wrap the simulated hair about the needles When in the hair-pickup position for engagement by the needle hooks such that when the needles move through the backward chain-forming strokes and re-enter the dolls head a loop is formed. The thus formed loops are drawn to a prescribed length and are severed into substantially equal lengths which provide two hairs for each such severed loop. 1Erovision is made during the skull-penetrating stroke to clamp the dolls head against a Work support by a presser foot; and `at the appropriate time in the stitch-forming cycle, the presser foot is released from the dolls head and the needle is rocked in a direction to displace the dolls head relative to the Work support for the next stitch-forming cycle. For a further description of this type of machine, reference may be made to U.S. Patent No. 2,812,734 of November l2, 1957, in the name of Frank A. Richards, which patent is assigned to the assignee of the present application, as well as to the numerous prior art patents owned by Puritan Sewing Machine Company.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide and improve hair-rooting machine of the aforesaid general construction.

Actual experience with machines of this type indicates the need for less complicated and more reliable mechanisms for drawing and cutting the loops in timed relation tothe formation of successive chain stitches into the dolls skull. In particular, it is relatively important to have a machine which is readily changed over from the formation and cutting of loops of one length to the formation and cutting of loops of a different length, with a relatively large range of adjustment. The changeover of the machine should be achieved with a minimum amount of down time and without the need of either diicult to ice make or precise adjustments. In commercial practice, it is not uncommon to require the formation of hair lengths anywhere from three inches to eight inches, and it has been heretofore impractical or impossibleV to provide for a reasonable range of adjustment in available types of machines. It is further important that the facility for ready adjustment be accomplished in a manner compatible with high-speed operation, and of course without interfering with the ability of the machine operator to guide the dolls head in relation to the chainstitching mechanisms to stitch the many and varied types of hair pieces which are required in commercial use.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a machine for rooting hair into a dolls head which is capable of ready adjustment over a range of hair lengths. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a hair-rooting machine which is exceptionally versatile and capable of stitching various hair lengths, is easily controlled by the machine operator particularly with respect to the facility of movement of the dolls head in relation to the stitching mechanisms, assures virtually perfect and even cutting of the suessive hair loops drawn by the machine, and provides substantially trouble-free operation over prolonged periods of use with minimum iti-service adjustment.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the presen-t invention, there is provided a machine for rooting hair inrto a dolls head which comprises a support, chain-stitching mechanisms including a needle movable through a stitch-forming stroke `for chain-stitching hair into the dolls head, and cutting mechanism spaced from the needle and mounted on a support. Means -are provided for releasably secur- Iing the hair cutting mechanisms in an adjusted position in relation to the needle thereby establishing the length of the hair to be rooted into the dolls head. A loopdrawing carriage including a hair guide is mounted for cyclic movement in a loop-drawing path which includes a needle-engaging segment in which the hair is engaged about the needle and a cutter-engaging segment during which the hair is engaged in the hair-cutting mechanisms. Means are provided for Iadjusting the length of the loopdrawing path to correspond to the adjusted position of the hair-cutting mechanisms. Respective actuating means are provided for moving rthe carriage along the adjusted loop-drawing path and for actuating the hair-cutting mechanisms in order to sever hair loops in timed relation to the operation of the chain-stitching mechanisms.

The above description, as well as further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment according to the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevational view, with some parts broken away and in section, of a hair-rooting machine demonstrating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the machine shown in FIG. 1, with the thread guides being disposed substantially at the start of the needle-engaging segment of the loopdrawing path;

FlG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, showing the loopdrawing carriage which moves between the needles of the chain-stitching mechanisms and the hair-cutting mechanisms, with the thread guides being disposed along the needle-engaging segment at a point somewhat later in the loop-drawing path than that illustrated in FIG, 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan View similar to FIG. 3, with the dotdash lines showing the position of the hair guides in relation to the cutting mechanisms at the start of a cutterengaging segment of the loop-drawing path and with the full lines showing the hair guides substantially at the end of the cutter-engagement segment of the loop-drawing path;

FIG. 5 is side-elevational View of the sub-assembly shown in FIG. 4, with the dotted lines to the right showing successive positions of the needles demonstrating the conventional feeding action of the chain-stitching mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FlG. 4, with the fullV lines showing the position of the hair guides during the forward traverse segment and with the dotted lines showing an oriented position of the hair guides after traverse of the guide-orienting segment of the loop-dra ing path; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the various segments of the loop-drawing path in relation to the plural needles and the. hair-cutting mechanisms.

Referring now specifically to the drawins, there is shown in FlGS. l and 2 a typical chain-stitch sewing machine, generally designated by the reference numeral 1'0, which may be modified in accordance wit the present invention to provide for the rooting of simulated hair into the skull are of a dolls head, a portion of a typical head or work piece being shown in FIG. l and designated by the letter W. The chain-stitch sewing machine l@ includes a work. support or foot l2 over which the dolls head or work piece is advanced due to the four-motion feeding action of the plural needles ld, lo, and ld cach of which has a foiwardlypdirected hook (i.e., hook ido, in FIG. 2) at the upper end thereof. The plural needles 14, 16, and 18, are mounted by conventional mechanisms for movement through four-motion stitch-forming cycles, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5. The stitchforming cycles include a return stroke S1 from a retracted position, a forward and upward skull-penetrating stroke S2, a feeding stroke S3 into a hair-pickup position,

- and nally aV backward chain-forming stroke S.

Referring once again to FIGS. l and 2, the chain-stitch sewing machine l@ incorporates a standard i@ which carries a horizontally extending head 22 in which is journalled a main shaft, designated by the reference numeral 24 and shown in dot-dash lines in FlG. l. The main shaft 2d is coupled by conventional mechanisms to a vertically reciprocating presser foot bar Z6 which carries a U-shaped presser foot 23 including a substantially horizontally extending work-engaging shoe 23a overlying the work support l2. Normally, the work-engaging shoe Zlio of the presser foot 2d engages the dolls head W for the required chain-stitching operation; and at the appropriate time in the machine cycle during the forward or feeding stroke S3 of the needles, the work-engaginfr shoe 28a is lifted by the presser foot bar 26 to permit the movement of the dolls head relative to the work support l2 for the next stitch-forming cycle. For further details of this substantially conventional chain-stitch se ying machine, reference may be made to US. Patent No. 2,812,734, of November l2, 1957, assigned to the assignee of the present application, and to the numerous prior art patents to Puritan Sewing Machine Company.

Rearwardly of the head 22 of the chain-stitch sewing machine lll, there is provided an appropriate frame or support which includes a vertically-extending mounting standard 30 which carries upstanding mounting plates 32, 34, extending fore and aft of the machine l@ and supported on the upstanding mounting standard 3i?. The mounting plate 34 carries a depending track-supporting angle iron 36 and a horizontal track-supporting angle iron 38. Extending forwardly of the machine from the horizontal track-supporting angle iron 38 is a horizontal carriage track d@ which is olfset to one side of the vertically reciprocating needles ld, lo, and 1Q. Disposed below the carriage track lli at a location offset to one side thereof and parallel thereto is a cutter rail l2 which is suspended by a rail-supporting standard 4d from the carriage track .40 at a location behind the needles.

ln accv nce with the present inven mechanisms,

tion, hair-cutting designated by the reference numeral do, are a ably mounted on the cutter rail ft2 spaced relation rearwardly of the plural needles i4, lo, le. The hair-cutting mechanisms do include a cutter rnc ig block w Aich is slidably mounted on the cutter rail e2 for movement toward and away from the needles le', "lo i The adiustcd position of the cuttermounting in relation to the needles will determine the l zgth of the iair rooted into the dolis head or similar wor piece, with the adiusted position of FlGS. l and 2 corresponding substantially to longest hair which can be rooted and cut in accordance with the present invention. cutter-mounting blocl; may be sccured in its various adjusted positions along the cutter rail by the l ros/sion of one or more sccurement bolts 5d. The cutter-moon. .g block supports a carrier Si which includes base wall Sie lying over the cutter rail 4Z and an upstanding iront wall 52h, which terminates in a rearwardly directed nose or hook 52o over which successive hair loops are eng ged, as will oe subsequently described. At approximately' the level of the work-engaging shoe 28o of the presser foot the upstonding wall 12!) of the carrier El supports a stationary cutter blade 5d which cooperate wx n a movable cutter blade 56 for severing successive hair loops. Tie movable cutter blade 5d in turn is mounted on a movable cutter mount 53 which is slidably supported for limited reciprocation on rails d@ on the carrier 52. When the movable cutter blade 56 is spaced in relation to the stationary cutter blade dfi, as illustrated in l: G. l, hair loops may be disposed therebetween; and as the movable cutter blade 56 reciprocates through its forward or cutting stroke toward the stationary cutter blade and into the cutting position illustrated in PEG. 5, hair loops are severed.

In this illustrative embodiment, the necessary reciprocating motion is imparted to the movable cutter mount 5S and to the movable cutter blade S6 by a cutter-actuating rod 62 which is reciprocated from the main shaft 24 of the sewing machine itl. Specically, and as seen best in FlG. l, the main shaft 2d is provided with a cutteroperating eccentric 64 which is engaged by an eccentric follower 65. The eccentric follower is coupled to the cutter-actuating rod 62 by a double-arm lever 63 which is pivoted by a relatively loose pivot 7) in a pivot block l2 on the head 22, of the machine it?, with the driver arm 655:1 thereof connected to the eccentric follower 66 and the rocker arm @53h thereof coupled to the cutter-actuating rod d2. The horizontal component motion of the rocker arm ob is coupled to the cutter-actuating rod 62 while the vertical component of motion is lost in the play of the pivot 7@ in the bearing 72.

A loop-forming carriage, generally designated by the reference numeral 74, is mounted on the carriage track di? for reciprocation between a forward limit position in operative relation to the plural needles of the chainstitching mechanisms and a retracted limited position (shown by the dotted lines in FIG. l) in operative relation to the hair-cutting mechanisms do. The forward position of the carriage "If-i is the same for various hair length adjustments of the hair cutting mechanisms 46. However, the retract position is adjusted in accordance with the ultimate length of the hair desired and the corresponding setting of the hair-cutting mechanisms 46.

The forward limit position for the carriage 7e is established by a fixed forward carriage-engaging limit assembly 76, while the retracted limit position for the carriage is established by an adjustable rearward carriage-engaging limit assembly 78. The forward carriage-engaging limit assembly 76 includes a mounting shoe d@ which is fixed to the forward end of the cutter rail 42 and to the forward end of the carriage track dit (see FIG. l). Mounted on the shoe dll is a vertically movable friction pad S2 which is biased upwardly to engage the adjacent undersurface of the carriage 74 in the forward limit position of the latter. The rearward carriage-engaging limit assembly 78 includes an adjustable mounting shoe 84 which may be slid to various adjusted positions along the carriage track 40 and secured in such adjusted position by an appropriate mounting bolt 86. The mounting shoe 34 carries a vertically movable friction pad 88 which is biased upwardly to engage the undersurface of the carriage 74 in the adjustable retracted position. The mounting of the respective friction pads 82, 8S on the shoes 80, 84, are substantially identical and are exemplified by the showing to the left in FIG. l wherein it is seen that the friction pad 88 is mounted on upstanding studs 90 which extend through the shoe 84 and carriage respective nuts or stops 92 which limits the vertical movement of the pad SS relative to the shoe S4. The shoe 84 in the areas surrounding the studs 90 is provided with cavities which receive coil springs 94 which bear at their lower ends against the shoe and at their upper ends against the upper surface of the friction pad S8 to bias the same upwardly for engagement with the carriage 74. An appropriate yieldable friction facing is provided on the friction pads, S2, 88 and the opposite lower ends of the loop-forming carriage 74 are chamfered to facilitate smooth engagement of the carriage with the respective friction pads and movement into the limit positions established by the friction pads.

The carriage 74 has pivotally mounted thereon a hair guide E6 which includes a dependent inclined guide arm 9S carrying spaced vertically-extending hair guide tubes 100, 102, 104, a transversely-extending crosshead 106 rigid with the guide arm 98, and a cam arm 108 rigid with the crosshead 106. The cam arm 108 extends generally parallel to the guide arm 98 and carries a cam follower 110 which engages a cam 112 fixed to the carriage track 40 and provided with a cam track 114, for a purpose to be subsequently described. The hair guide 96 is pivotally mounted on the carriage 74 at a hair guide pivot 116 at the junction between the guide arm 98 and thecrosshead 106. The guide arm 98 is inclined downwardly and forwardly (see FIG. l) such that the guide tubes 102, 104, 106 are supported for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, with the lower end of the guide tubes being disposed substantially at the level of the hooks on the plural needles. In response to reciprocation of the carriage 74 along the carriage track 40 and pivotal movement of the guide 96 about its pivot 116, the guide tubes 100, 102, 104 are moved along a loop-forming path, to be subsequently described in detail, the path includes an operative position relative to the plural needles 14, 16, 18 for engaging respective hairs or filaments H1, H2, and H3 about the respective needles and an operative position in relation to the stationary and movable cutter blades 54, 56 of the hair-cutting mechanism 46 wherein the opposite ends of the loops are positioned for cutting. The pivotal or swinging movement of the hair guide 96 in the horizontal plane about the upstanding pivot 116 is limited by adjustable stops 118, 120, mounted on the carriage 74 a-t the rear and front edges thereof and at opposite sides of the crosshead 106.

Actuating mechanisms are provided for reciprocating the carriage 74 along the carriage track 40 and for pivoting the hair guide 96 in relation to the carriage 74 in timed relation to the operation of the chain-stitching mechanisms to complete successive loops of the plural hairs about the needles 14, 16, 18 and over the nose 52C of the hair-cutting mechanism 46. In this illustrative embodiment, an auxiliary drive shaft 122 is disposed in spaced parallel relation behind the main shaft 24 of the sewing machine and is journalled on the upstanding mounting plates 32, 34. The auxiliary drive shaft is coupled to the main guide shaft by a drive sprocket .1.24 on the main drive shaft, a driven sprocket 126 on the auxiliary shaft 122, and an interconnecting chain 128 trained over the sprockets 124, 126 (see FIG. 2). The auxiliary drive shaft 122 carries an actuating eccentric 130 (see FIG. l) which is engaged by an eccentric follower or ring 132 having an upstanding follower arm 134. The reciprocating motion of the follower arm 134 is imparted from the double arm actuating lever 136 to a coupling rod 13S via a pivotal connection 140. The coupling arm 138 in turn has a pivotal connection 142 to the hair guide 96 at the junction of the crosshead 106 and the cam arm 1118 (see FIG. 2). The double arm actuating lever 136 is coupled to the follower arm 134 and mounted in a fashion to permit the adjustment of the fore and aft reciprocation of the assembly of the carriage '74 and the hair guide 96 in accordance with the desired length of hair to be formed by the machine, but with provision for establishing the same forward limit position for the carriage '74 and the guide tubes 100, 102, 104 of the hair guide 96 since the needle location is fixed in the machine. Specifically, the double arm actuating lever 136 has a pivotal mount 144 which may be adjusted fore and aft of the machine to establish a constant forward position for the hair guides. Specifically, the pivotal mount 144 is journalled in a bearing sleeve 146 which is carried by a follower block 148 mounted in a horizontallyextending slideway 150. In the illustrated position of FIG. l, the slide block 148 is at the left extremity of the slideway 150 corresponding to an adjustment of the machine for the longest possible hair. The slide block 148 is adjusted along the slideway 150 by the provision of a lead screw 152 (see FIG. 2) which is in threaded engagement with the slide block or follower 148 and is journalled on a laterally projecting ear 34a on the mounting plate 34. A knurled knob 154 is provided on the lead screw 152 to facilitate adjustment of the follower or slide block 148 along the slideway 150. The follower arm 134 of the eccentric follower ring 132 is pivotally connected tO the driver arm 136e of the double arm actuating lever 136 by the provision of a pivotal connection 156 which may be pivotally secured at various adjusted positions along the slot 15S provided in the arm 136a which slot extends away from the adjustable pivotal mount 144 of the double arm lever 136. It will be appreciated that the ratio of the length of the driver arm 136a between the pivotal mount 144 and the pivotal connection 156 and the entire length of the driven arm 136b between the pivotal mount 144 and the pivotal connection 140 will determine the throw or stroke length available at the assembly of the carriage 74 and the hair guide 96. The stroke or throw may be adjusted by loosening the pivotal connection 156 between the follower arm 134a and the driver arm 13651 and sliding the pivotal mount 144 along the slideway 150 by turning the knurled knob 154 on the lead screw 152. When the adjusted position for the pivotal mount 144 is established, the pivotal connection 156 between the follower arm 134 and the driver arm 13661 is once again completed, with the follower arm 134 extending generally vertically. In such adjusted position, it will be appreciated that the effective length of driver arm between the pivotal mount 144 and the pivotal connection 156 (which will be disposed somewhere along the slot 158) will be greater and the ratio of the lever arms correspondingly decreased to establish a shorter throw for 'the assembly of the carriage 74 and the hair guide 96. Of course for each such setting of the actuating lever 136 and its corresponding connections, appropriate settings must be made for the hair-cutting mechanism or unit 46 and for the rear carriage-engaging limit assembly 78, as will be subsequently described.

Progressive reference will now be made to FIGS. 3 to 7 inclusive for a description of a typical machine cycle in accordance with the present invention:

As seen in FIG. 3, the hair guide 96 is pivoted to an offset position bearing against the rear stop 118 by virtue of the rearwardly directed pulling force exerted on the coupling rod 133, as indicated by the directional arrow. This pulling force is provided by the driven arm 136b diedero ofthe actuating lever in response to the operation of the .cam and follower 13d, E32 under control of and in timed relation to the rotation of the main shaft 2d. At this time in the machine cycle, the needles i4, i6, 13 are in Vthe hair-pickup positions (see FlG. l) and the respective guide tubes lill?, M32, ldd are forwardly of the needles such that the hairs or filaments H1, H2, H3 are in position Vto be engaged about the corresponding needles. As the assembly of the hair guide 9o and the carriage "if-l starts rearwardly, there can be no relative pivotal movement of the hair .guide 96 in relation to the carriage 7d. The respective guide tubes lill, 02, ldd depend from the guide arm 9S such that the guide tube ltlb may enter the interstice between the needles 14, le, the guide tube HB2 can enter the interstice between the needle le, l, and the .guide tube lila can pass along the outer side of the needle 118 at the Start of a return stroke, as shown diagramatically in FIG. 7 and designated generally by the letter A. As the coupling rod 38 pulls rearwardly, the carriage '74 is disengaged from the friction pad 8?. of the front carriage-engaging limit assembly 76 and the guide tubes ldd, lllZ, 104 move rearwardly along a iirst loop-forming segment B toward the hair-cutting mechanisms do during which one leg or" a hair loop is formed. At the end of the rearward reciprocation of the carriage 74- as established by engagement with the friction pad S8 of the rear carriage-engaging limit assembly '73, the respective thread guides lilil, lill 1M- arrive at a laterally offset position in relation to the hair-cutting mechanisms 46, the laterally -olset clearance position is shown by the dotted lines in YFlG. 4 and is identified by the reference letter, C in FIGS. '4- and 7. Throughout the rearward movement of the thread guides along the first loop-forming segment B ot' the loop-forming path, it will be appreciated that the crosshead 166 of the hair guide 9e rests against the rear stop 1lb, since a rearwardly directed pull is exerted by the coupling rod i355 on the pivoted hair guide 96. After the carriage 74 arrives at the rear limit position established by the adjustable carriage-engaging limit assembly 78, and in response to the start of the forward stroke imparted by the eccentric i3d and follower 1312 via the double arm actuating lever i3d to the coupling rod 1133, as indicated by the directional arrow in FlG. 4, the hair guide 96 swings horizontally about the vertical pivot or pin lle until the cross head ltld engages the front stop 126). It should lbe appreciated that the frictional force between the pad '23 and the carriage 74 is sufcient to maintain the carriage 74 in a stationary position until the hair guide 96 reaches the limit of its pivotal movement against the stop 12d. In this laterally offset clearance position, designated by the letter E in FIGS. 4 and 7, the respective hair guides lub, db2, illare at the opposite side of the cutter assembly. As the hair guides move from one laterally offset position C (as shown by the dotted lines in FlG. 4) tothe other laterally offset postion E .at the opposite side of the hair-cutting mechanism 46 (as shown by the full lines in FlG. 4), the hair guides sweep through an arcuate cutter-engaging segment of the loop- .forming path, Vas shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7 and designated by the letter D. In response to the movement of the hair guides lill), M92, N4 through the cutter-engaging segment vl), the respective hair filaments H1, Hg, and H3 are wrapped around the opstanding and rearward- Vvly directed nose 52C and dropped into a supported and non-cutting position overlying the stationary and movable cutter blades 54, 56. At this time and as seen in FIG. 5, the blades Se, Se are closed and cutting the previously formed hair loops. With continued reference to FlG. 5, it will be understood that the timing of the hair-cutting mechanisms d6 in relation to the chain-forming mechaynisms is such that there is an appreciable lag between the -time when the loop is formed and when the loop is cut to assure that the threading of the machine will not be lost. For example, the loop L is being cut to form separated opposite legs and corresponding hairs embedded in the dolls head or work piece W, while the loop L being formed is simultaneously being wrapped about the nose 52C of the hair-cutting unit do at one end. At its o,- posite end, the loop L is being chained or looped through the previously formed loop L l at the underside of the dolls head by the needle which is moving from its retracted position through the return stroke S1. Of course, when the movable cutter blade S6 is retracted away from the stationary cutter blade 54, the loop L formed about the upstanding nose 52C will drop into position for severing in response to the next cutting stroke.

Referring again to FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that after the hair guide 96 pivots to the laterally oiiset clearance position established by the front stop l2@ in response to the forward thrust imparted to the coupling rod 138, that the hair guide lltl, 162, lll-l will move forwardly toward the needles le, le, i8 through a second loop-forming segment, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7 and designated by the letter F. At a time prior to the end of the forward stroke of the coupling rod i3d, and in the inter- Aiediate position shown by the full lines of FlG. 6 and designated by the letter G in FGS. 6 and 7, the cam roller or follower lit) engages the incline-d camming surface lle-a of the cam lle. Thereupon, the continued forward thrust of the coupling rod 133 against the reaction force developed by the cam roller llt) riding along the inclined cumming surface lilla will cause the hair guide 96 to pivot about the pin or pivot liti from the full line position illustrated in FG. 6 to the dotted line position wherein the hair guides or sleeves lull, M2, 194 are located behind the needles ld, 16, 1S for movement throgh the needle-engaging segment A of the loop-forming path. The sidewise displacement or pivoting of the thread guides under control of the inclined camming surface Elda is designated in FIG. 7 by the letter I and can be considered to be a sidewise traverse segment of the loop-forming path. The oriented position of the thread guides or sleeves ldd, 1&2, ldd in relation to the needles i4, te, i8 is designated in FIGS. 6 and 7 by the letter K. ln this oriented position, the thread guide or sleeve 100 is in position to wrap the corresponding hair or thread H1 about the needle ld as it passes in a curved path about the outer side thereof, the hair guide 102 is in a position to enter the interstice between the needles lll, 16, and to wrap its hair or thread H2 about the needle 16, and the hair guide lll@ is in position to enter the interstice between the needle la, t8, and to wrap its hair H3 about the needle l. Thereupon, and as the cam roller liti rides up on to the flat cumming surface ill-lb and in response to continued forward thrust imparted to the coupling rod 38, the guides 10G, lltlZ, 10d will pass through the needles ld, lo, l. The cam roller lill arrives at the junction between the camming surfaces 11d-rz, lllb at a time when the carriage 7d is still moving through its forward thrust or stroke such that the oriented guides will be advanced through the respective needles, as the actuating mechanisrn completes its forward thrust. As the coupling rod i3d is pulled rearwardly in response to the rearward stroke of the actuating mechanisms, and with the carriage 74 remaining stationary, the thread guide 96 is swung to an offset clearance position wherein the crosshead 1% contacts the rear stop lid which in turn swings the respective thread guides through the needle-engaging segment A of the loop-forming path for return along the first loopforming segment B of the loop-forming path, as seen in FlG. 3.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention an exceptionally simple and highly reliable attachment for a conventional chain stitch sewing machine which converts the same to the rooting of hair-simulating threads of iilament into a dolls head and like work pieces. The adjustments to achieve various haid lengths may be made by the simple expedient of relocating the rear limit stop or assembly for the carriage, adjusting the position of hair-cutting mechanisms, Iand making an appropriate adjustment in the stroke or throw imparted to the carriage. These adjustments do not require the physical replacement of any component part of the machine and may be made on a routine day to day basis as required. The region surrounding the work support is free of any obstructions and may be adequately shielded to permit the operator to manipulate the dolls head as is required to stitch in the various complex patterns often required in making up a hair piece with virtually no danger of injury. The timing of the mechanisms of the attachment may be readily coordinated to the timing of the conventional chain-stitch sewing machine and the cutting sequence is such that there is virtually no possibility that the threading will be lost incident to cutting of hairs or filaments at a time when they are not trapped into the dolls head or scalp.

Upon a comparison of the additional mechanisms of the instant hair-rooting machine to the conventional chain stitch sewing machine, it will be appreciated that the carriage 74 and associated mechanisms which Wrap the respective hairs about the needles and the hair-cutting mechanisms partially replaces the conventional looper which is found in such chain stitch sewing machine. In the present hair-rooting machine, the conventional looper which is necessary to the operation of the chain stitch mechanisms is removed and replaced by the carriage 74 Vand associated mechanisms which serve the function of the conventional looper and in addition serves as a means for drawing successive lengths of hair from the source of supply for cutting. The carriage and associated mechanisms serve a dual function as compared to the conventional looper and result in a material simplified machine, assuring positive and reliable operation.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some feature of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be constructed in a manner consistentwith the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

What we claim is:

l. A machine for rooting hair into a dolls head comprising chain-stitching mechanisms including a needle movable through stitch-forming stroke for chain stitching hair into a dolls head, hair-cutting mechanisms spaced from said needle, a loop-drawing carriage including a hair guide pivotally mounted on said carriage, means for moving said carriage in a loop-drawing path including a needle-engaging segment during which said hair is engaged about said needle and said loop-drawing path further including a cutter-engaging segment during which said hair is engaged in said hair-cutting mechanisms, and actuating means for said hair-cutting mechanisms for severing hair loops in timed relation to operation of said chain-stitching mechanisms.

2. A machine for rooting hair into a dolls head comprising chain-stitching mechanisms including plural needles simultaneously movable through stitch-forming strokes for chain stitching plural hairs into a dolls head, hair-cutting mechanisms spaced from said needles, a loopdrawing carriage including plural haid guides pivotally mounted on said carriage, means for moving said carriage in a loop-drawing path including a needle-engaging segment during which said plural hairs are individually engaged about the respective needles and said loop-drawing path further including a cutter-engaging segment during which said plural hairs are engaged in said hair-cutting mechanisms, and actuating means for said hair-cutting mechanisms for severing hair loops in timed relation to operation of said chain-stitching mechanisms.

3. 1n a machine for rooting hair into a dolls head, chain-stitching mechanisms including a needle movable through a stitch-forming stroke for chain stitching hair into a dolls head, hair-cutting mechanisms spaced from said needle, a loop-drawing carriage including a hair guide and means mounting said hair guide on said carriage for pivotal movement relative to said carriage, and means for moving said carriage and said hair guide in a loopdrawing path including a needle-engaging segment during which said hair guide is pivoted relative to said carriage and said hair is engaged about said needle and said loopdrawing path lfurther including a cutter-engaging segment during which said hair guide is again pivoted relative to said carriage and said hair is engaged in said hair-cutting mechanism.

4. A machine for rooting hair into a dolls head comprising chain-stitching mechanisms including a needle movable through a stitch-forming stroke for chain stitching hair into a dolls head, hair-cutting mechanisms spaced from said needle, a loop-drawing carriage including a hair guide and means mounting said hair guide on said carriage for pivotal movement relative thereto, means for moving said carriage and said hair guide in a loop-drawing path including a needle-engaging segment during which said hair guide is pivoted relative to said carriage and said hair is engaged about said needle and said loop-drawing path further including a cutter-engaging segment during which said hair guide is again pivoted relative to said carriage and said hair is engaged in said haircutting mechanism, and means for actuating said haircutting mechanisms to sever hair loops in timed relation to operation of said chain-stitching mechanisms.

5. In a machine for rooting hair into a dolls head, a support, chain-stitching mechanisms including a needle movable through stitch-forming stroke for chain stitching hair into a dolls head, hair-cutting mechanisms spaced from said needle, a loop-drawing carriage mounted on said support for reciprocal movement, a hair guide mounted on said carriage for pivotal movement relative thereto, and means for moving said carriage and said hair guide in a loop-drawing path including a needle-engaging segment during which said hair guide is pivoted relative to said carriage and said hair is engaged about said needle and said loop-drawing path further including a cutter-engaging segment during which said hair guide is again pivoted relative to said carriage and said hair is engaged in said hair-cutting mechanism, said last-named means including means for reciprocating said carriage, friction means engaging said carriage when the latter approaches a limit position adjacent said needle, and camming means engaging said hair guide when said carriage is in said limited position and responsive to the means for reciprocating said carriage to pivot said hair guide through said needle-engaging segment.

6. A machine for rooting hair into a dolls head comprising a support, chain-stitching mechanisms including a needle movable through a stitch-forming stroke for chain stitching hair into said dolls head, hair-cutting mechanisms spaced from said needle, means adjustably mounting said hair-cutting mechanisms on said support, means for releasably securing said hair-cutting mechanisms in an adjusted position in relation to said needle thereby establishing the length of the hair to be rooted into said dolls head, a loop drawing carriage including a hair guide pivotally mounted on said carriage, means mounting said carriage for reciprocal movement in a loop-drawing path including a needle-engaging segment in which said hair is engaged about said needle and said loop-drawing path further including a cutter-engaging segment during which said hair is engaged in said hair-cutting mechanisms, means for adjusting the length of said loop-drawing path to correspond to said adjusted position of said hair-cutting mechanism, actuating means for said carriage moving the same along the adjusted loop-drawing path, and further actuating means for said hair-cutting mechanisms for severing hair loops in timed relation to operation of said chain-stitching mechanisms.

7. A machine for rooting hair into a dolls head comprising a support, chain-stitching mechanisms including plural needles simultaneously movable through stitchforming strokes for chain stitching plural hairs into said dolls head, hair-cutting mechanisms spaced from said needles, means adjustably mounting said hair-cutting mechanisms in said support, means for releasably securing said hair cutting mechanisms in an adjusted position in relation to said plural needles thereby establishing the length of the hair to be rooted into said dolls head, a loop-drawing carriage including plural hair guides pivotally mounted on said carriage, means mounting said carriage for reciprocal movement in a loop-drawing path including a needle-engaging segment in which said plural hairs are individually engaged about the respective needles and said loop-drawing pathfurther including a cutterengaging segment during which said plural hairs are engaged in said hair-cutting mechanisms, means for adjusting the length of said loop-drawing path to correspond to said adjusted position of said hair-cutting mechanisms, actuating means for said carriage moving the same along the adjusted loop-drawing path, and further actuating means for said hair-cutting mechanisms for severing hair loops in timed relation to operation of said chain-stitching mechanisms.

8. A machine for rootingsimulated hair into the skull of a dolls head comprising a Work support over which said dolls head is moved, chain-stitching mechanisms in- 2;,

cluding a needle movable through a stitch-forming cycle having a forward skull-penetrating stroke into a hairpickup position and backward chain-forming stroke, haircutting mechanisms including a Xed cutter and a movable cutter, means mounting said hair-cutting mechanisms in spaced relation to Said needle, a loop-forming carriage including a hair guide for said needle and said hair guide being pivotally mounted on said carriage, means mounting said loop-forming carriage and hair guide for cyclic movement in a loop-forming path in relation to said needle and said hair-cutting mechanisms, actuating means for moving said carriage and said hair guide in said looporming path in timed relation to said chain-stitching mechanisms such that said hair is wrapped about said needle While said needle is substantially in said hair-pickup position, and further actuating means for moving said movable cutter in relation to said stationary cutter in timed relation to said chain-stitching mechanisms such that successive hair loops are cut at points removed from said needle and when said needle has moved through at least the next successive chain-forming stroke.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES FATENTS 146,970 Wright lan, 27, 18711 2,606,514 Williams Aug. l2, 1952 2,780,190 Lenoble Feb. 5, 1957 2,812,734- Ricnards Nov. l2, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 814,247 Great Britain lune 3, i959 870,658 Great Britain June 14, 196i 

1. A MACHINE FOR ROOTING HAIR INTO A DOLL''S HEAD COMPRISING CHAIN-STITCHING MECHANISMS INCLUDING A NEEDLE MOVABLE THROUGH STITCH-FORMING STROKE FOR CHAIN STITCHING HAIR INTO A DOLL''S HEAD, HAIR-CUTTING MECHANISMS SPACED FROM SAID NEEDLE, A LOOP-DRAWING CARRIEAGE INCLUDING A HAIR GUIDE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE IN A LOOP-DRAWING PATH INCLUDING A NEEDLE-ENGAGING SEGMENT DURING WHICH SAID HAIR IS ENGAGED ABOUT SAID NEEDLE AND SAID LOOP-DRAWING PATH FURTHER INCLUDING A CUTTER-ENGAGING SEGMENT DURING WHICH SAID HAIR IS ENGAGED IN SAID HAIR-CUTTING MECHANISMS, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR SAID HAIR-CUTTING MECHANISMS, AND SEVERING HAIR LOOPS IN TIMED RELATION TO OPERATION OF SAID CHAIN-STITCHING MECHANISMS. 